The History of McAfee Knob

Ever wonder about the history of McAfee Knob? 

Grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and spend 30 minutes with Diana Christopulos, the uber Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club volunteer. From the Totero tribe and namesake James McAfee to the trail you know today, Diana lays it all out for us to enjoy.

Folks began hiking to the knob around the turn of the century and even then there were issues with parking. Horse and buggy parking was an issue for would-be hikers even in the early 1900s.

In the 1930s, the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club was founded by three local hiking clubs from Roanoke College, Hollins University, and what is thought to have been a women’s hiking club called “The Nomads”. Learn about all these fun facts and more in this video presentation for all the history buffs out there.

Get details on all Appalachian Trail hikes in the Roanoke Region.

Want to learn even more? The Salem Museum has a feature exhibit called The Other Side of the Mountain: Life in the Catawba Valley, which explores everyday life beginning with the Virginia Indians who first settled in Catawba; the culture that developed in the largely agrarian community; the stunning scenery—Dragon’s Tooth and McAfee Knob; and the modern institutions that have formed there.

This exhibit will continue through March 2022.